Commenting on yesterday's report by HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland, which stated that prosecutors are not preparing thoroughly for summary cases, FDA Scottish Secretary Jim Caldwell said:

"This report clearly exposes the concerns over staffing levels that the FDA has been highlighting for the last two years, to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) management and in our October 2011 evidence to the Scottish Government's Justice Committee.

"Ministers cannot continue to expect staff to shore up their failure to retain adequate staffing levels in the Service. The Scottish Government made it a priority to protect the current number of police officers, while the number of prosecutors has reduced. Without enough prosecutors and support staff the legal system will not operate effectively. Our Justice Committee evidence of October 2011 stated that the backlog of cases to be assessed by prosecutors was rising, and to date it continues to grow.

"We know that COPFS management have introduced new technology and restructured the Service in an effort to cope with reducing staff numbers, but at a time when we are being asked to do more and more, it is about time that Ministers listened to frontline staff and properly committed to ensuring the resilience of Scotland's prosecution service."

Notes for editors

1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the UK's senior civil